SC notice to Ashraf over cases

NASIR JAFFRY AND AGENCIES

Raja Pervez Ashraf

Islamabad, Aug. 8: The Supreme Court issued a contempt of court notice against Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf today, signalling what appeared to be a re-run of judicial proceedings that saw his predecessor ousted from office in June.

The order is likely to further escalate tensions between the court and the government. The ongoing conflict has dominated Pakistan’s political scene this year, stoking instability at a time when many say the country’s leaders should be more focused on issues like the energy crisis and the Taliban insurgency.

The court wants Ashraf to write a letter to Swiss authorities asking them to re-open a graft case against President Asif Ali Zardari dating back to the late 1990s. The government maintains that Zardari has immunity from prosecution while in office and so far has resisted writing the letter.

The previous Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, lost his job in June in a similar showdown with the court after refusing to write the letter.

The head of a five-judge panel, Asif Saeed Khosa, said today that Ashraf must appear before the court on August 27. The judge said it was unfortunate that the Prime Minister had failed to comply with the court order already.

If Ashraf fails to appear in court or continues to refuse to write the letter, he could be charged with contempt of court. A prominent Pakistani lawyer Abdul Hafeez Pirzada said he did not expect Ashraf to write the letter to the Swiss - which could lead to the Prime Minister’s dismissal from office.

“I don’t think they (the government) are in a mood to write the letter,” Pirzada said.

An adviser to the Prime Minister, Fawad Chaudhry, said Ashraf had been informed about today’s ruling and would consult with his political allies before making any decision.

Chaudhry said the ruling could further deepen political instability at a time when the country is facing multiple challenges.

However, Zardari is not in immediate danger of being put on trial. The Swiss have indicated they have no plans to reopen the case while the president is in office because he enjoys immunity as head of state.

The court has been aggressive in using its clout to investigate the government as well as Pakistan’s security agencies, and appears to consider it unacceptable for the government to ignore its orders.

The ruling Pakistan People’s Party views the court with suspicion, and supporters have questioned whether the court is becoming too powerful.

Pakistani political analyst Mehdi Hassan said that court cases against PPP figures — including both the current and the previous Prime Minister — were being heard too quickly, giving the appearance that they are being targeted. “The courts are too much politicised,” he said.